Photographic apparatus for motion picture projection

ABSTRACT

Projector for use with a motion picture film cassette, employing a housing having a front viewing face and a cassette-receiving cavity in communication with the top surface of the housing. A door member mounted at the rear of the opening and configured to block the opening when pivoted into closing position thereacross, carries a cassette-receiving guide which is adapted to receive the cassette from the front of the projector when the door is in its open position and to carry it to an operative location in the cavity when the door is pivoted to its closed position. The door is adapted to displace a drive mechanism of the apparatus into operative relation with the cassette, and the guide is coupled to the door through a lost motion member such that the cassette remains fixed in its operative location during engagement and disengagement of the drive mechanism. Additionally, a handle member is pivotally attached to the apparatus for selective displacement from a first position flush with a surface of the housing to a depressed position where it effects displacement of the door from its closed position and to an upright position where it is accessible for carrying of the unit.

United States Patent [1 1 Conner et al.

1 PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR MOTION PICTURE PRQJECTION [75] Inventors:James M. Conner, Mamaroneck,

N.Y.; Henry .I. Salvador, Whittier, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge,

Mass.

221 Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 325,857

Related us. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 174,374, Aug. 24,1971, Pat. No.

[4 1 Feb. 26, 1974 Primary ExaminerCasmir A. Nunberg top surface of thehousing. A door member mounted at the rear of the opening and configuredto block the opening when pivoted into closing position thereacross,carries a cassette-receiving guide which isadapted to receive thecassette from the front of the projector when the door is in its openposition and to carry it to an operative location in the cavity when thedoor is pivoted to its closed position. The door is adapted to displacea drive mechanism of the apparatus into operative relation with thecassette, and the guide is coupled to the door through a lost motionmember such that the cassette remains fixed in its operative locationduring engagement and disengagement of the drive mechanism.Additionally, a handle member is pivotally attached to the apparatus forselective displacement from a first position flush with a surface of thehousing to a depressed position where it effects displacement of thedoor from its closed position and to an upright position where it isaccessible for carrying of the unit.

'8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures SHEET 2 [IF 4 PATENTEDFEBZBIQH SHEET 3 0F 4I II III, I IIIIII II II II II FIG. 4

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 174,374, filedAug. 24, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,736,051.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to photographic apparatus and more particularly to photographicapparatus adapted for operation of a motion picture film cassette.

2. Description of the Prior Art In motion picture photography with whichthe present application is particularly concerned, film cassettes haveattained wide use inasmuch as they eliminate direct handling of the filmby the operator. However, such cassettes place additional burdens on thecamera and projector apparatus. For example, the apparatus must providea suitable arrangement for insertion and removal of the cassette from anoperative location within the interior of the unit. Such arrangementsshould provide positive locationof the cassette in its operativeposition and should be conveniently located with respect to otheroperational portions of the apparatus so as to be easily accessible tothe operator. Moreover, the loading arrangements are further complicatedinasmuch as motion picture film cassettes conventionally provideoperative elements accessible from adjoining surfaces, for example, afilm gate at one edge and film spools at the cassette side such that theapparatus must interact with the cassette in each of these orthogonalplanes.

Additionally, the projector apparatus of the present rangement shouldalso be effective to exclude light from entering the apparatus in thevicinity of the cassette.

An important object of this invention, therefore, is to provide improvedphotographic apparatus for operation of a motion picture film cassette.

Another primary object of this invention is to provide improvedphotographic apparatusfor facilitating the insertion of a motion picturefilm cassette into and its subsequent removal from an-operative locationwithin the apparatus. 1

A further object of this invention is to provide photographic apparatusadapted to facilitate the location ofa motion picture film cassettewithin the interior of the apparatus housing in operative relation withcomponents of the apparatus.

Still another object of this-invention is to provide photographicapparatus, for-use with a photographic film cassette, employing a handleadapted for carrying of the unit and operation of its cassette loadingmechanism.

A still further object of this invention is to provide photographicprojector apparatus employing a cassette loading mechanism whichadditionally provides a light sealing arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the invention, which isparticularly adapted for use with the motion picture film cassettes forprojection of images of the film carried therein, comprises a housinghaving an opening adapted to receive such cassette and a pivotallymounted closure member configured to block the opening when pivoted intoposition thereacross. It also includes cassettereceiving means coupledto the closure member and adapted to receive such cassette when theclosure member is in an open position and for positioning it within theinterior of the housing in an operative location when the closure memberis pivoted to its closed position. I

In the preferred embodiment, the photographic apparatus is a vieweradapted for projection of images re corded on the film strip carried bya motion picture film cassette to a front viewing-face of the apparatus.A cassette-receiving chamber is disposed within the viewer housing incommunication with a top surface thereof, and a door member is pivotallymounted at the rear of the opening. A guide member mounted on theunderside of the door, is configured to receive the eassette from the.front of the housing when the door is in its open position and toautomatically position it within the cassette-receiving chamber when thedoor member is pivoted to its closed position. Additionally, agasketlike member configured for peripheral engagement with the doormember excludes light from entering the chamber in the vicinity of itscassette-receiving opening.

During its closing, the door member is adapted to couple a drivemechanism of the viewer to the film spools of the cassette. Further, theguide member is attached to the door through a lost motion member suchthat, during closing, the cassette is positioned in its operativelocation prior to engagement of the drive mechanism and remains fixed inthis position subsequent to disengagement of the drive mechanism.

Additionally a handle, is displaceably mounted on the viewer fordisplacement between an upright position wherein it provides means forcarrying of the viewer and a depressed position wherein it effectsdisplacement of the cassette-loading door from its closed position.Preferably, the handle is-a U-shaped structure havng a pair of spacedparallel arm members depending from a centrally located hand engageableportion. At their distal ends, the arm members are pivotally attached tothe top surface of the viewer and coupled to a door-latch thereof suchthat the hand engageable portion is pivotable from a storage positionflush with the top surface to a position above-this surface, where it isavailable for carrying of the unit, and to position slightly below thissurface, where it effects release, of the door-latch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTI-IE DRAWINGS The novel features that areconsidered characteristic of the invention areset forth withparticularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however,both as to its organization and its method of operation together withadditional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood in thefollowing description of the pre-' ferred embodiment when read inconnection with the accompanying drawingsv wherein like numbers haveviewer;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the of the apparatushandle when it is located in position for carrying of the apparatus.-

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. l and 2, thephotographic apparatus preferably takes the form of a rear projectionviewer including a box shaped housing 12 having a front viewing-face orscreen 14. Positioned within housing 12, in a cassette-receiving chamberor well 18, is a motion picture film cassette or magazine 16 having itsfilm gate 17 in optical alignment with the optical axis of the viewerfor projection of film images by conventional means (not shown)downwardly along optical path 22 to mirror 24 and therefrom, along path26 to the rear of screen 14.

Cassette 16 is a motion picture film cassette comprising a generallyparallelepiped casing, enclosing a motion picture film (not shown)mounted on a pair of film spools (not shown) for transport across acassette opening or film gate 17 which is disposed in the lower edge 42of the casing. Access to the spool shafts 44'and 46 is provided throughopenings 48 and 50 of the easing side 52.

The cassette-receiving well 18 extends to and is in communication withopening 30 of the top surface 28' of the viewer, and a closure member ordoor 32 is pivotally mounted at the rear edge of opening 30 forcontrolling access to well 18. Hence, the door 32 is mounted on shaft 34for pivotal motion from a closed position, blocking the opening 30, toan open position permitting insertion and removal of cassette l6.Latching means 36, later described in detail, secures door 32 in itsclosed position.

Inasmuch as the apparatus is intended for use with multi-purposecassettes such as those described in the aforementioned copendingapplication, the viewer is adapted for development of the film carriedwithin the cassette. Hence, it includes means (not shown) forselectively excluding light from entering the cassette well 18 from theinterior of the apparatus so as to effectively provide a light-tightwell (as for example, by means of a displaceably mounted shutter, notshown, for selectively sealing the aperture plate 72 of the well 18) andincludes means for excluding light from entering the cassette well 18 inthe proximity of the door 32. Hence, a sealing gasket 53 of elastomericmaterial or the like is disposed on the door member or adjoining areasof the housing 12, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Other sealing arrangementsfor the exterior of chamber 18 are also possible, for example, theoverlap between the door 32 and shelf-like portions of surface 28suchras shown at 55 may be suitable.

A guide member or cassette-receiving sleeve 54 iscoupled to theunderside of the door 32 and is adapted to receive cassette 16 when thedoor is in its'open position, as shown in FIG. 3, and to carry it intopocket 18 and locate it therein in operative relation to othercomponents of the apparatus when the door is pivoted-to its closedposition as shown in FIG. 4.

In its operative position the lower edge 42 of the eassette 16 islocated at the bottom surface 57 of the well 18 with its film gate 17 inalignment with an aperture plate 72 and its film strip (not shown) inengagement with a conventional claw 74. Additionally, the cassette 16 isin operative relation to a projection lamp (not shown) which is adaptedto project film images along optical path 22 and to screen 14. Further,as later explained in detail in regard to FIG. 5, the spool shafts 44and 46 are disposed in engagement with appropriate drive mechanisms 76.

The sleeve 54, which comprises an open ended container adapted tosubstantially conform to the dimensions of the cassette 16, is coupledto the underside of the door 32 by a pair of spaced mounting members 58and 60 which permit limited pivotal motion between the sleeve and thedoor. At its interior end 62, the sleeve 54 is coupled to the member58for pivotal motion thereto whereas at its forward end 64, it is coupledto member 60 in an arrangement providing lost motion coupling betweenthe sleeve and the door. In this regard, a shaft or lug 66 of sleeve 54extends within an elongated slot 68 of member 60 and thereby permitslimited translational movement between the sleeve and the member.Additionally, the sleeve 54 is biased downwardly from the door 32 bymeans of a leaf spring 70 such that the sleeve leads the door duringclosing of the latter and lags the door during the opening thereof.

When the door 32 is open as shown in FIG. 3, the sleeve 54 is drawnpartially out of pocket 18 and positioned for insertion or removal ofthe cassette 16 from the front of the viewer. With the door in thisposition,

the cassette 16 may be slid rearwardly into sleeve 54 for loadingpurposes and slid in a forwardly direction for unloading. Consequently,the loading arrangement most advantageously facilitates loading of theprojector from the operative or viewing end of the apparatusf Uponclosing the door 32, the cassette 16 is automat- I ically carried intothe pocket 18 and seated therein in operative relation with the apertureplate 72 and the claw mechanism 74 at the bottom of the pocket as shownin FIG. 4. Additionally, closing of the door 32 displaces a pair ofspool drive mechanisms 76, one of which is shown in detail in FIG. 5,into engagement with the spool shafts 44 and 46. Hence, the structureprovides means responsive to movement of the loading mechanism fordisplacing the spool driving means of the projector into or out ofpocket 18 for engagement with or disengagement fromthe cassette 16 whenthe latter is positioned therein.

As shown in FIG. 5, the drive mechanism 76 is mounted for rotationwithin a bearing sleeve 79 which is fixedly attached to the underside ofthe top viewer surface 28. Each drive mechanism 76 includes a sleeve 78journaled in bearing sleeve 79 for rotational motion with respectthereto. A drive shaft, 80, which carries a collar-like cam 88 isslideably mounted within sleeve 78 and is keyed thereto by conventionalmeans (not shown) so as to rotate therewith. Hence, the shaft 80 isadapted for translational motion with respect to sleeve 78 so as topermit lateral displacement of the shaft with respect to cassette pocket18. In this regard, the shaft 80 is biased by a spring 82 in a directionaway from pocket 18. Attached to the door member 32, is a U-shapedmember 83 (shown more clearly in FIG. 4) which carries a pair ofdepending arms 84 adapted to operatively engage the inclined surface 86of each collar member 88 to cam each shaft 80 towards pocket 18 forcoupling engagement with the cassette spools when the door is closed. Asshown, collar 88 may be fixedly mounted on shaft 80 for rotationalmotion therewith by a pin 90 or the like. Alternatively, retaining rings(not shown) may be employed to limit the translational motion of collar88 with respect to shaft 80 while prmitting rotational motion thereto.Finally, a conventional clutch arrangement 90 is employed to drive theunit from any conventional power means (not shown). The latter may alsobe utilized to drive the claw 74.

Displacing of the drive means in accordance with door movement inconjunction with the lost motion means and downward bias of guide member54 seats the cassette in its operative position prior to the lateralengagement of the drive and retains it in such position for a timesubsequent to disengagement; Hence, drive engaging arms 84 position thedrive mechanism 76 in lags the door during its opening in accordancewith its lost motion and spring bias arrangement, the cassette isretained in a fixed position during this engagement and disengagement.

As previously indicated, door 32 is retained in its closed position by alatch mechanism 36 which as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, includes a latchmember 92 pivotally mounted to housing 12 and adapted for auto maticallyengaging a depending, hook-like arm 94 of the door 32 when the latter isclosed. This engagement is effected by a spring 96 which biases latchmember 92 toward arm 94. Additionally, latch member 92 includes anextended arm 98 configured for effecting pivotal motion of the latchmember out of locking engagement and release of the door 32 inaccordance with downward movement of. the arm member 98 as shown in FIG.7.

The latch release is accomplished in this embodiment by a U-shapedhandle member 100 (see FIG. .1) which includes a hand engageable portionor bar 102 having a pair of depending arms 104 and 106, which arepivotally mounted to the top surface 28 of housing '12 to permit pivotalmotion of the handle thereto. Preferably, the surface 28 includes arecess 108 within which handle 100 is stored, flush with the topsurface, and within which the bar 102 may be depressed below the topsurface for effecting release of the door member 32. For carrying of theunit, the bar 102 is pivoted to a location above the surface 28 as shownin FIG. 8 wherein arm members 104 and 106 are in a substantial uprightposition and the bar 102 is properly located to permit grasping of it byan operator. One or both arms 104 and 106 carry a finger or lug member110 which functions to raise the door during its release and incooperation with a vertical surface 112 of the housing 12 provide ahandle-stop in the carrying position. Advantageously, door member 32 mayalso be lightly upwardly biased by any conventional means such as a leafspring (not shown) so as to urge the door to a slightly raised positiononce its arm 94 is released.

Preferably, handle member is located on the viewer such that its pivotpoint or its operation fulcrum is close to the vertical plane of thehousing 12 which also passes through its center of gravity of theapparatu's. Of course, while location away from this plane wll effectthe attitude of the housing 12 during carrying of the viewer, it willnot defeat the carrying function of the handle. Those familiar with themotion picture arts will readily appreciate the novel and highlyuniqueadvantages of this invention which provides an inexpensive andefficient loading arrangement for facilitating insertion and removal ofa film cassette in a direction which is related to the overall operationof the apparatus and the position of the operator during such operation.Hence, the loading mechanism is particularly adapted for incorporationinto a compact rear projection viewer to permit the operator to rapidlyoperate motion picture film cassettes with a minimum of effort. Further,an exterior light seal is provided in the vicinity of thecassette-receiving chamber, and the loading mechanism also efficientlylocates the cassette within the apparatus in a positive operativeengagement with interfacing components of the latter.

It should be understood that this invention may be practiced or embodiedin still other ways without departing from the spirit or essentialcharacter thereof. Hence, the preferred embodiment herein is ilustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims and all variations whichcome with the meaning of theclaims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. Photographic apparatus for use with a motion picture cassette, saidapparatus comprising:

a housing having an opening configured to facilitate the insertion ofsuch cassette into and subsequent removal of such cassette from saidapparatus;

a closure member displaceably mounted on said housing for movementbetween a first position wherein it blocks said opening and a secondposition wherein it does-not block said opening; and

means including a hand engageable member for effecting displacement ofsaid closure member from its said first position and for facilitatingcarrying of said apparatus, said means displaceably mounted on saidhousing for movement at least between a first position wherein iteffects displacement of said closure member from its said first positionand a second position wherein said hand engageable member is accessiblefor grasping thereof by an operator for carrying of said apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for latching said closuremember in its blocking position across said opening and said means fordisplacing said closure member being configured foreffecting the releaseof said latching means responsive to location of said displacing meansin its said first position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said hand engageable member iscoupled to the top surface of said housing for providing a fulcrumpositioned close to a vertical plane of said housing which passes nearthe center of gravity of said apparatus. 7

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said displacing means is a U-shapedmember comprising a centrally located hand grip portion and a pair oflever members depending in spaced parallel relation therefrom, and saidlever members are pivotally coupled at their distal ends to the topsurface of said housing for displacement'of said hand grip portionbetween a first position wherein it is spaced from said top surface anda second position wherein it is disposed in close proximity to said topsurface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for latching said closuremember in its said first position, said latching means displaceablymounted on said housing for movement between a first position wherein itlatches closure member door when it is'in its said first position and asecond position wherein it releases closure member door from its saidfirst position, and said displacing means configured for engaging saidlatching means and displacing it to its said second position when saiddisplacing means is moved to its said first position.

6. Photographic apparatus for use with a motion picture cassette, saidapparatus comprising:

ahousing having an opening configured to facilitate V the insertion ofsuch cassette into and subsequent removal of such cassette from saidapparatus; 7 first means, displaceably mounted on said housing for'movement between a first and a second position, for receiving suchcassette when said means is in its said first position and forpositioning such cassette within said apparatus when said first means isdisplaced to its said second position; and second means including a handengageable member for effecting displacement of said first means fromits said second position and for facilitating carrying of the apparatus,said second means displaceably mounted on said housing for movement atleast between a first position wherein it effects displacement of saidfirst means from its said first position and a second position whereinsaid hand engageable portion is accessible for grasping thereof by anoperator for carrying of said apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first means comprises aguidemember displaceably mounted on said housing for movement between afirst and second position, and said guide member configured to slideablyreceive such cassette when said member is in its said first position andto carry it within said opening and position it at a predeterminedlocation within said apparatus when said member is displaced to its saidsecond position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 additionally including 7 means forreleasably latching said guide member in its said second position, andsaid second means being configured to release said latching means whensaid second means is disposed in its said first position.

1. Photographic apparatus for use with a motion picture cassette, saidapparatus comprising: a housing having an opening configured tofacilitate the insertion of such cassette into and subsequent removal ofsuch cassette from said apparatus; a closure member displaceably mountedon said housing for movement between a first position wherein it blockssaid opening and a second position wherein it does not block saidopening; and means including a hand engageable member for effectingdisplacement of said closure member from its said first position and forfacilitating carrying of said apparatus, said means displaceably mountedon said housing for movement at least between a first position whereinit effects displacement of said closure member from its said firstposition and a second position wherein said hand engageable member isaccessible for grasping thereof by an operator for carrying of saidapparatus.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for latching saidclosure member in its blocking position across said opening and saidmeans for displacing said closure member being configured for effectingthe release of said latching means responsive to location of saiddisplacing means in its said first position.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2wherein said hand engageable member is coupled to the top surface ofsaid housing for providing a fulcrum positioned close to a verticalplane of said housing which passes near the center of gravity of saidapparatus.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said displacing means isa U-shaped member comprising a centrally located hand grip portion and apair of lever members depending in spaced parallel relation therefrom,and said lever members are pivotally coupled at their distal ends to thetop surface of said housing for displacement of said hand grip portionbetween a first position wherein it is spaced from said top surface anda second position wherein it is disposed in close proximity to said topsurface.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for latching saidclosure member in its said first position, said latching meansdisplaceably mounted on said housing for movement between a firstposition wherein it latches said door when it is in its said firstposition and a second position wherein it releases said door from itssaid first position, and said displacing means configured for engagingsaid latching means and displacing it to its said second position whensaid displacing means is moved to its said first position. 6.Photographic apparatus for use with a motion picture cassette, saidapparatus comprising: a housing having an opening configured tofacilitate the insertion of such cassette into and subsequent removal ofsuch cassette from said apparatus; first means, displaceably mounted onsaid housing for movement between a first and a second position, forreceiving such cassette when said means is in its said first positionand for positioning such cassette within said apparatus when said firstmeans is displaced to its said second position; and second meansincluding a hand engageable member for effecting displacement of saidfirst means from its said second position and for facilitatiNg carryingof the apparatus, said second means displaceably mounted on said housingfor movement at least between a first position wherein it effectsdisplacement of said first means from its said first position and asecond position wherein said hand engageable portion is accessible forgrasping thereof by an operator for carrying of said apparatus.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6 wherein said first means comprises a guide memberdisplaceably mounted on said housing for movement between a first andsecond position, and said guide member configured to slideably receivesuch cassette when said member is in its said first position and tocarry it within said opening and position it at a predetermined locationwithin said apparatus when said member is displaced to its said secondposition.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 additionally including means forreleasably latching said guide member in its said second position, andsaid second means being configured to release said latching means whensaid second means is disposed in its said first position.